By the time they had finally left the inn, Buck had been waiting around for well over four hours.

He had left his house well before dawn, tiptoed his way across town using only back alleys, and set up watch behind a dark corner that was overlooking the front door of Utmar’s inn. But boy, was Luric taking his sweet time. Last night, Luric had told Chief Slatrim that he’d meet him around noon, but Buck hadn’t expected Luric to idle around in the dining hall the entire morning. Had he known this, he would not have woken his ass up so early to stand uselessly in the freezing air for hours on end.

Luric sat by himself,reading. At some point he saw Mrs. Mura approach him timidly, probably to ask him about breakfast, and he dismissed her with a flick of his wrist without even looking at her. That had angered Buck. Well, aren’t ya full of ya’self, little lord. Mrs. Mura may not be the sharpest mind in Runrick - a bumbling old lady that was more often than not a source of mean-spirited comments - but she was a hardy, hard working person that never did nothing to no one and she sure as hell didn’t deserve to be treated like a dirty dish rag.

Hours later, Buck saw another woman come down and sit with Luric at his table. He couldn’t get a good look at her, but judging from her modern-style bowl cut, it was safe to assume she was Luric’s companion from the capital. Yet Luric made no move to greet her; didn’t so much as look at her. Just how rude was this asshole?

He wondered if the blond woman was like Luric too- not completely human- and this cold behavior towards each other was the norm for them. Mrs. Mura came again, and brought the new woman something to eat. When Mrs. Mura spoke to the new woman, she answered; Luric’s companion seemed to be more inclined in acknowledging her presence. Luric ignored both of them. When he finally did say something, Buck noticed how the conversation changed. Mrs. Mura took her leave suddenly, and the exchange that followed between Luric and the other woman appeared to be brisk and unfriendly, and it ended with Luric scowling out the window. Buck crouched further behind the wall, making sure Luric wouldn’t catch sight of him.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally saw them rise from the table. The woman took a handkerchief out of her pocket, wrapped what she hadn’t eaten in it, and stuffed it back in her coat. Guess the food wasn’t to her liking.

He waited a minute after they stepped outside, and then followed them. He noticed how Luric was zipping ahead, just a breath away from calling it sprinting, while the petite woman struggled to not be left behind. They weren’t on the best of terms, he concluded. This was useful to know. Maybe he could approach her.

He was surprised to see them cut through the market. It was so packed with people he had assumed Luric would want to avoid it, but they moved effortlessly through the crowd. Or rather, the crowd parted and moved out of their way. Some people dashed to leave the market once they saw them, but most were content to either pretend Luric wasn’t there while maintaining a healthy distance. There were some whispers, some excitement, but nothing too obvious. They were afraid to be heard or noticed by him. Buck wondered if Luric could hear what was being said?

So focused were the people on Luric’s presence that no one paid him any mind. On any other day, Buck would’ve been confronted by someone, or a lot of someones, spit on, and hauled out of the market. He was the least of their problems today.

He took his time following them across the market, since he knew where they were heading. He then went round the other side of the prayhouse and once he made sure there was no one else around, crouched beneath an open window of the magistrate’s office.

There, he became privy to another session of thinly veiled contempt being passed between Luric and Slatrim. It had white eyes, dammit! There was a brief moment of panic when the woman asked about the possibility of there being two of those damned monsters lurking around, but Luric’s firm and resolute negation laid those fears to rest.

When Luric asked about any survivors he could talk to, Buck stiffened. But his own name never came up. It seemed like Slatrim and Santr had forgotten about him, even though it was him that had led the party. Maybe this is for the best....

They would go see Egbrim next. He lived close to the market, but Buck wouldn’t be able to go anywhere near that house himself. Egbrim’s father would murder him on sight.

He prepared to crawl towards the doorway when he heard his name being mentioned. And then immediately dismissed by Slatrim. Hard. A chicken ass, he called him.

Buck couldn’t help the wave of indignation that came over him. He deserved to be called that, he knew he did, yet it still stung like a bitch. Worse yet, Luric was there to hear it. It was most likely that Luric didn’t even remembered Buck, so the harsh brush-off might not mean anything to him. Nevertheless, he felt shame at being belittled like that, and in Luric’s presence no less. He didn’t truly understand why. They hadn’t been friends, had barely spoke to one another as children. Sure, Buck had taken notice of him, there had been all sorts of rumors surrounding the pale boy after all, but as a child, Luric had always given off such an air of prickly aloofness that Buck had always been disinclined to approach him.

Luric would seldom talk, even during class, but when he did, he liked to make it more than clear just how much smarter and well-read he was than then rest of them. Not like Sivale, who simply got overexcited when answering and wanted to share what he knew. At a distance, Luric had seemed quiet and shy, maybe a little meek, but there was a contempt hidden in his speech that as a kid, Buck didn’t quite understand but picked up on regardless. He remembered catching Luric stare at him a couple of times, and it always felt like he was silently judging him.

Buck hadn't cared that much back then, since he had too much to be content with to bother with the attention of a single, sullen kid that sat alone under the tree. But now? Now, he was holding his breath, waiting to find out what his name brought out of Luric.

Luric didn’t say anything; simply walked out the door without another word. Guess his name must have truly not rung any bells. And that bothered Buck too.

He looked around the corner to see the pair walk back in the direction of the market. Egbrim’s house was just on the other side. Buck scurried after them.

They seemed to be arguing again, but he couldn’t hear what they were saying. The woman soon fell behind, and Buck realized she was limping lightly. Then suddenly, with no warning, Luric changed course and came straight at him.

Just like last night, Buck froze. Had he been seen? Had Luric known he was being followed? Of course, you idiot. He wasn’t human. He could probably sense anything and everything in his vicinity. Buck braced himself for a confrontation.

But the confrontation never came. Luric just walked past him without so much as a look in his direction. Even the woman gave him a quick glance when she followed after, but he might as well have been invisible to Luric.

Again, it shouldn’t have bothered him. More than that, Buck should have been relieved that he hadn’t been caught.

Instead, it only stung.

When he saw them entering Sivale’s shop, his first instinct was to burst inside and stand by his friend. Sivale was pretty much the only person in town aside from his parents that still talked to him. He even went out of his way to help him find medication to ease his troubled mind. Sivale was a good-natured man, if not a bit jumpy, who definitely didn’t deserve to be at the receiving end of Luric’s haughty bullshit.

But then he remembered that Luric had been Sivale’s friend before Buck. They had both been orphans living with his old teacher. Sivale never spoke of either of them, so Buck had forgotten about their connection. He hoped this would mean Luric was going to be civil with him. And if they ended up talking, Buck might be able to get some information out of Sivale later.

He was a little surprised to see Sivale leave with them, though. And they still weren’t heading in the direction of Egbrim’s house. It was getting harder to remain inconspicuous. They were leaving the more populated center of town, and there was no way to not stand out as the only other person going the same way they were. Sivale would definitely recognize him.

It soon became clear, though, where they were going, so he could afford to remain at a safe distance.

Buck himself hadn’t been there for years, but he still knew the way. His old school stood abandoned on top of a flat hill at the edge of town. There were only a few houses standing a little further down the slope that led to it and he only had small fences to hide behind now. The top of the hill was empty aside from the school building, Mr. Carshtin’s house, and one lone tree in the yard.

They never went inside, however. Neither inside the school, nor the house that had been their actual living space. They just hovered under the tree, facing it. The woman stood a few feet apart from them. Everything about it looked odd.

When Sivale came down the hill alone, Buck decided to make his presence known. His friend nearly jumped out of his skin, but Buck was fast enough to clamp his hand around Sivale’s mouth and drag him down next to him behind a low bush. When he took a peek he saw Luric and the woman head down another road, one that led further outside of town. Good, he had time to talk with Sivale.

His friend had calmed down somewhat when he saw who had grabbed him, but he was still looking at Buck with large, questioning eyes.

“What are you doing?” Sivale wheezed.

“Sorry, it’s not you. I’m following him. ”

“What? Luric? Why?”

“I – I don’t trust him. I don’t think he’s here just for what he claimed.”

“You think he’s here for something other than getting rid of the monster? What makes you say that?”

“It’s a feeling, all right? He wouldn’t come back just to help us. Not after…,” and Buck trailed off. “It just doesn’t make sense.”

Sivale just stared at him as if he wanted to say something about that.

“What were you even doing up there?” Buck asked. “It looked like you both were taking a piss at the same time.”

He had never seen Sivale look affronted before, it was almost comical, “That is – I am sorry, but it’s none of your business.”

“Just tell me, will ya. I’m gonna go over there anyway, and I’ll be kinda miffed if all I find is your puddle.”

Silvale exhaled trough his nose loudly, and his shoulders slumped in defeat.

“I guess – if it’s you it’s all right. I can tell you.”

“Sivale?”

“It’s nothing important, alright? I just made a small pray place for Mr. Carshtin. For me and Chipi to go to and pay our respects to him without anyone else knowing. Luric wanted to see it.”

This, Buck had not expected. “What- when did you- why did you never tell me?”

“I- I didn’t know how you felt about him.”

What Buck thought of Mr. Carshtin? As in, if he believed what people said about him after he died? That he had created Luric? That he was a dark conjurer? An evil man that had planned to feed Runrick’s children to Luric one day? No, he didn’t believe that. Some of what the adults had spun about Mr. Carshtin might have stuck with him for a while, but it had never felt right. Nothing about his teacher had ever seemed off or evil to Buck. And now that Buck found himself the subject of all sorts of twisted tales being passed back and forth, he was even more convinced of Mr. Carshtin’s innocence. Whether he had known about Luric’s true nature didn’t matter, he was certain his old teacher had never intended to do anyone any harm. Luric on the other hand….

“They said Luric killed him.”

“They said a lot of things, didn’t they?” answered Sivale, a little sourly. “Luric would never hurt him. Mr. Carshtin went to look for Luric with men that didn’t like either of them. Slatrim’s men. And- and Baliger was there too. They came back with him unconscious, and they took us away before I got to see what had been done to him. But I know I didn’t see any bite or claw marks. Wasn’t that what they said Luric has when he turns? None of his clothes were ripped, there was no blood aside from what was running down his mouth and nose. He looked bruised and swollen. He had been pummeled by fists. ”

“Luric was there when they found him dead in his house.”

“So what could he have been doing aside from slowly killing Mr. Carshtin? Maybe tending to the man that had raised him, since no one else would. Staying by his side? Trying to comfort him? Does that sound so implausible?”

Buck lowered his eyes. “No.” But neither do I know him well enough to be certain.

Maybe Luric was not to blame for Mr. Carshtin's death. Maybe he had not deserved what had been done to him. In the end, it didn't matter. It wasn't like he could undo any of it. There was only one truth they had to deal with now; Luric was a monster, and he was pissed at them.

“Are you going to keep following them?”

“…Yeah.”

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

Sivale shook his head. “This is what he had to put up with back then too. Even before he turned that time. Suspicion. Animosity. People assuming the worst of him. Nothing has changed.”

“So then tell me why he’d want to come back here, ey? Why would someone come to aid the people that have wronged him so? Because he enjoys seeing us suffer, that’s why. He said as much. But if that’s what he’s after, then why take away the cause of our suffering? Am I wrong to think he might want to prolong it instead?”

“He wouldn’t do that.”

“Wouldn’t he?”

They were at a standstill, and Buck wanted to stop it before it turned into a clash. Sivale hated conflict, would avoid a fight at any cost, but he was determined to hold his ground this time. And Buck didn’t want to upset the last person in Runrick that he could still call a friend. So he backed off.

“I just want to make sure. For my own peace of mind, all right?”

“Suit yourself.”

It wasn’t the concession he was looking for, but he had no time to try and pacify him. He’d make amends later. When he was able to prove that Buck had every reason to be suspicious of Luric.

They parted ways, sullen and at odds. Buck climbed up the hill until he reached the spot where the road intersected with the one Luric and the woman had taken. He had lost sight of them, but even so, it felt wrong to simply follow them and ignore what he had just found out from Sivale. It felt… disrespectful. So he walked a little further upwards until he reached the tree. Sure enough, there was a rock, barely taller than a foot, with faint letters written on it. There were even some withered flowers scattered here and there.

It had been years since he had properly thought of the man. The ashen-haired man with kind eyes standing in front of a black board and waving his hands around energetically as he tried to convince his students of the thrill that were trigonometric functions. The man loved teaching, becoming livelier and more animated when he was reenacting famous generals on battlefields in history class, or speaking of his favorite writers in literature class. Some lessons were too tedious no matter how hard Mr. Carshtin had tried to make them exciting so attendance varied drastically, but whether he had a full room, or just two students, he was always happy to teach anyone who was willing to learn.

Outside of class though, Mr. Carshtin was a different man. Reserved, withdrawn, and rarely seen at town gatherings or local festivals. This hadn’t helped his reputation.

Buck had sought him out a couple of times, outside of school. He loved literature class when the books Mr. Carshtin brought were about heroes and adventures, and Buck had wished to talk more about them. Wanted more stories like that. Mr. Carshtin was more than happy to oblige. But there was one book they had discussed once, that made Buck think. The tale of ‘Ruuderan and the Water Serpent’. Mr. Carshtin had asked Buck if he thought the water serpent had deserved to die.

“Of course,” Buck had answered resolutely, “how else would Ruuderan have been able to get its eggs that would grant him immortality?”

Mr. Carshtin had looked at him, and asked if he thought it fair that a creature that had not hurt anyone, had just wanted to protect its children from invaders that intended to kill them, be vilified in the book. Buck had been confused then, and Mr. Carshtin had not insisted further with that rationale. For years, Buck had thought his teacher simply tried to warn him in his own way about the bias in these tales of heroic grandeur and not be fooled by them. He knew now what he had been trying to tell him. What he was trying to prepare him for. The monster is not always evil.

Yes, Mr. Carshtin had known about Luric, and he had tried to prepare Buck for the moment when Luric’s secret would inevitably be found out. Had silently asked him to think before he judged. To not hate Luric for something he couldn't help. Maybe even be an ally to him.

I’m sorry, I think it’s too late for that.

He went back to the crossing and looked down the road he had to follow. It was strange that Luric had chosen to take this route. You could technically still reach the market using this path, but it would take longer, and it led through one of Runrick’s more unseemly neighborhoods. Why would he want to-

Oh.

Oh, shit.

I was right! I was right! I was right!

That was the only thought that kept pounding in his head as he stared at Luric’s ghastly, snarling face. He got to them just as Luric whirled around to spit furiously at the woman. She, in turn, had a small gun pointed towards him. Baliger was on the ground, and Buck couldn’t tell if he was hurt or bleeding with all that mud on him. Luric was looming over him like a predator over a fresh kill, possessive and threatening towards anyone that could steal it from him. Luric was also yelling, and Buck was dimly aware of words being spoken, but all he could hear was the deep rumbling reverberations that no human throat could produce. Fear paralyzed him, and he felt his body shutting down again, just like last night. Just like before. What made it worse was that he was in full view. The scene had taken him by surprise, so he had stumbled right in the middle of the road and forgotten to take cover. If Luric would turn his head now, he would see him, standing there and gawking at him like a moron.

In the end, no one died. Not Baliger, not the woman, not him. For reasons Buck couldn’t discern, Luric cooled off, and walked away from Baliger without laying a finger on him. He then went to the woman, and they spoke quietly. Buck thought he could see her shoulders shaking. This had perturbed her as well. He was certain now that she was just a regular human. Maybe sent to keep Luric in line, if the gun was anything to go by.

The gun! That was what must have impelled Luric to abandon his form. A normal bullet couldn’t harm the beast, so it was probably safe to assume that it wouldn’t hurt Luric either. That that gun must be specifically designed to be used as a weapon against his kind. Maybe it used a special kind of bullet.

That was it. That was his chance.

He had to get that gun.

There was no time to wait for the opportunity to get close to the woman, convince her of Luric’s vengeful intentions, and make her an ally. He had to get that gun now. Luric could turn on anyone at any moment. Runrick was full of people he had a grudge against.

Luric and the woman started walking again. This time Buck was sure they were going to see Egbrim. Buck tried to remember if either Egbrim or his parents had ever done anything to Luric. Something that could tick him off. He couldn’t remember, but neither did he want to risk it. He owed Egbrim at least this much.

He followed after them, tried to keep his steps as light as possible because everything had gone so quiet. It was getting dark, and the animals had gone into hiding. As the small alleys gave way to larger, more populated streets, Buck gathered his courage and quickened his steps to get closer. The woman was walking a few feet behind Luric, and once they’d enter the market space, he’d rush her and get the gun before Luric could react.

If only he could make sure that his body wouldn’t freeze on him again. Even now he could feel the muscles in his legs systematically tensing and relaxing, and he tried to maintain the fast walking rhythm to keep the blood pumping and force adrenaline into his system. Buck fixed his eyes on the woman’s small frame and tried to tune out Luric’s presence in front of her until he had the gun.

They were in the market now. Everyone was scrambling to gather their things and leave before it got too dark, but there were still far more people around than Buck had anticipated. But this was good. It would make getting closer to her less obvious with the crowd.

He made his move, closed the distance in large, fast steps, and went for the woman’s right pocket. That’s where he had seen her put it. Buck wouldn’t bother with being stealthy; he knew he had no skill in subtracting it without her noticing. But he could overpower her easily.

He grabbed her right arm with his left hand to keep her still and to make it easier for his right hand to go inside her pocket.

“HEY!” she yelled frantically.

“Don’t be scared, I just want to-”

It wasn’t there. The pocket was empty.

He didn’t even have time to worry or regret his decisions, because the very next moment, he felt fingers dig into his jugular, and a pair of obsidian eyes looking at him in open disgust filled his vision for a second. He then got lifted off the ground and flung backwards. He didn’t fly far, but he slid and rolled across the ground a good distance before he came to a stop. When he opened his eyes, he wished he had been pushed even further away, because Luric’s imposing figure was far closer than he would’ve liked.

And like that, they were finally face to face.

He got up on his feet, grateful they could still hold him up. He just prayed they wouldn’t start shaking.

When he looked at Luric, he noted that the other man seemed neither angry nor annoyed, but amused. Like he was looking at something that was both pitiful and funny. And that just made his blood boil. Oh, there was still a good deal of fear inside of him, but now it was forced to make room for a shitload of indignation.

“You have got to be a special kind of stupid,” Luric teased, “to actually try something like that around me. Never mind that that was the worst attempt at pickpocketing I have ever seen.”

“Luric, leave him be. I wasn’t hurt, and we don’t have time for this,” the woman yelled.

Luric looked at her like he wanted to start an argument, but then sighed, gave him the stink eye again, and turned to leave without another word.

Around them, everyone had gone still, people standing to observe them even from the furthest corners of the market. He’d take advantage of the silence.

“Shoot him!” Buck yelled.

Both Luric and the woman turned to look at him, perplexed, but he kept his eyes on the woman so that she could understand he was talking to her.

“Shoot the bastard! You were right to want to earlier. He can’t be trusted. He is out to get us.”

There was shock now on both their faces as it dawned on them what he meant by ‘earlier’. Now Luric was angry. “If you know what’s good for you,” he spat, “you’d keep your fucking mouth shut and high tail it out of here.”

But Buck ignored him, kept his focus solely on the woman. “I was just trying to get your gun, not attack you. I don’t know what your relationship with him is, but if you truly want to make sure that he doesn’t get to hurt anyone then end it now. Baliger won’t be the only one otherwise.”

People were starting to whisper agitatedly. He knew most would think Luric had killed Baliger from the way he worded it, and that was good. It might get them to side with him. He needed all the help he could get.

Now Luric was livid and he was coming towards him. Buck felt his knees go numb, but he forced himself to keep standing. “You little shit, who the fuck do you think you are? Slatrim send you to follow me around or something?”

Buck blinked. Wait. No way? Even now? Luric was staring him right in the face, and yet he didn’t- “You seriously still don’t recognize me?”

It was Luric’s turn to look surprised. He frowned, gave his tattered appearance a long one over, then settled on his face, and squinted in confusion. He saw the exact moment the light went on in Luric’s head. His eyes got impossibly large, and for a second all traces of animosity were gone from his expression.

“Buck?” he said with utter astonishement.

Okay, I can’t look that bad.

It lasted only a moment, though. The same way he got to witness recollection render Luric speechless, he now got to see the incredulity morph into a sadistic smile. Luric’s rancor was back, with gusto.

“Well, if it isn’t good, old Buckcrown. It’s been forever hasn’t it? What have you been up to, old boy? Slay any dragons yet? Rescue a couple of maidens, have you? Whatever it was, it must have been grand. You must’ve turned out exactly how everyone always said you would. A great and famous man.”

He was so smug, so self-satisfied with his little bit, and Buck wanted nothing more than to hurl himself at Luric in blind fury, if only to wipe off that insufferable smirk.

He never got to think of a rebuke however, because a booming voice suddenly filled the square.

“He was a righteous little prick, I’ll give ya that. Always goin’ on and on ‘bout how he was goin’ ta become the First Knight or some bullshit like that. Annoyed the hell outa me too, most’a time,” said the deep, baritone voice, far more cheerful than was currently appropriate. “But it makes now rubbin’ his failures in his face all the more enjoyable, I’d say.”

Standing there, with his formidable bear-like built, and boasting loud and proudly, was Izver.

Great, that’s all I need now.

Out of all his defamers, Izver was the most ardent one. When Buck had returned to Runrick, disgraced and broken, Izver had shown his true colors. Not that he had ever been truly fooled by him. Izver was as shrewd and subtle as he was pretty, but even Buck could have never guessed the absolute enjoyment he would take out of dragging his name through the mud. What he had first thought was simple, boyish rivalry laced with some jealousy had actually been full blown hatred.

And what made everything worse was that Izver now received the sort of appreciation and admiration that Buck had once emjoyed. Izver was well-liked. He was considered the strongest man in Runrick. Could supposedly rip a tree trunk from its roots with his bare hands. He was the best hunter. All that qualified him as an exceptional northerner, and the praise wouldn’t stop flowing. People turned to him when in need, and the hunters and woodmen rallied behind him. He was the reason Buck hadn’t gotten as much support with his campaign against the beast as he had hoped; Izver had spoken against it, and most men listened to him. Even Slatrim seemed a bit wary of Izver lately.

But by Baar, was he still as stupid as ever. If Luric resented Buck, than he must absolutely loathe Izver. His overconfidence would be the end of him.

“Izver? What in heaven’s name did they feed you?”

Oh, so him you recognize instantly. What gave him away? The facial hair?

As expected, Luric turned his entire hate-filled attention towards Izver. “Are we supposed to be friends now? Brought together by our mutual distaste of Buck?”

Izver chuckled and answered just as cheerfully. “Oh no, don’t ya worry ‘ bout that. I’d never care to associate with a piece a sheep shit like you. Never liked ya then, like ya even less now, fancy fuckboy dress an’ all. ”

Stupid Izver! He might not care much for the oaf, but Buck still wouldn’t want to see him getting disemboweled by Luric. It all came down to the woman, if she would hold him back like before. Only he didn’t see her reach for the gun at all, just stare disapprovingly at Luric. “Luric, you promised.” And it worked again. Luric huffed in annoyance like a discontent teenager being denied something.

“Fine, let’s just fucking go!”

But Izver was in their way, and the brute was making no attempt to move aside. It was another challenge. To Buck’s surprise, Luric gave in again, and instead of staying his course and forcing Izver out of his path, he instead attempted to walk around him. People would see this as a win for Izver. Luric must have hated that, yet the he proved to be more reasonable than that block-head.

But said block-head couldn’t let things end well, could he? Izver’s fat arm shot out and barred Luric from walking past him. “How impolite. I wasn’t done talking t'ya. I thought the nobles would teach ya manners too. Or is followin’ orders like a dog the only thing ya supposed ta do? Is the little lady ya owner? She give ya a treat later for bein’ a good boy? Can I pet ya?” And the bastard actually started reaching for Luric’s head.

It all happened so fast.

Luric didn’t change, at least not visibly, but he grabbed Izver’s left arm and swung around, taking the rest of Izver with him. Izver tried to stand his ground, planting his feet firmly in it, but Luric’s brute strength had him soon tripping and staggering after the smaller man. He was getting dragged along like an unruly child that didn’t want to go home. Luric twisted them around, once, twice, until Izver was completely caught in the centrifugal force of his rotation. The moment Izver lost his balance, Luric let go and the large man went plummeting to the ground hard, a cloud of dust rising up around him.

Had Izver let Luric go without another word, he would’ve left the market a hero. To all eyes around them it looked like Luric had been the one to back off, but Izver had taken his taunting to dangerous extremes and had paid the price for it. Luric had known exactly how to turn this around in his favor; instead of a bloody outcome that would only cement him as the freak Izver wanted to paint him as, he resorted to a show of force in which Izver ended up looking like a fool for having thought to oppose him.

Izver was aware of that, given how enraged he looked. Yet being tossed around like a sack of potatoes despite his size and weight wasn’t enough to make him realize just how outmatched he was. Even the dumbest bovine would have taken the warning, and thanked the gods for being able to walk away from the encounter with all his limbs still attached, but Izver was clearly not done pushing his luck. He got up, grunting and swearing, and charged at Luric full speed.

Buck hoped that Luric would be smart again, jump to the side, and let the big idiot fall on his face. It would add to his embarrassment. But to his frustration, he saw Luric crouch down and brace himself to meet Izver’s attack head on. He really wanted to prove how much stronger he was.

Obviously not quite as much as he, and the rest, had thought. Izver collided with Luric, and the smaller man wasn’t able to repel him with the ease Buck had anticipated. Izver grabbed him by the shoulders firmly and pushed against Luric with all his might. To everyone’s surprise, Luric was being driven back, despite his entire body propped to fight against Izver’s advance.

But Luric’s reserves of power ran deep, and this had to end before he felt the need to tap into them.

“LURIC!” the woman screamed.

Somewhere underneath Izver’s bulk he heard Luric answer with a strained voice “Oh come on, you can’t blame me for this too. He started it!”

“LURIC! MONSTER!”

“Fuck’s sake, Nelle, I won’t use that, all right? I can deal-argh- with this lummox like this-ow-just fine!”

“NO, LURIC! THE MONSTER! THE LUSRAE! IT’S HERE!”

It took a moment for Buck to fully understand what she meant. He saw her shaking arm extended all the way and he turned his eyes towards what she was pointing at so feverishly.

“ON THE ROOF!”

- was the monster.